Space heater with means to preheat fuel therefor



Sept; 2, 1952 w, ocRoRY SPACE HEATER WITH MEANS TO PREHEAT FUEL THEREFOR Filed March 8, 1949 I x h INVENTOR WILLIS E. MC CRORY, DECEASED, RALEH w. MORGAN, EXECUTOR FA BY W WWa ATTORNEYS.

Patented sept. 2, 195? I m 2,608,967 v v LSPACE HEATER WITH MEANS 'ro PREHEAT.

. .FUEL THEREFOR *"Willis E. McCrory, deceased, late of Okmulgee,

kla., by Ralph W. Morgan, executor, Wichita.

Falls, Tex.

Application March 8, 1949, Serial No. 80,121

1 Claim. 1

The present invention relates to an improved for preheating the fuel prior to combustion.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate an embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

The invention has for an object the provision of an improved stove or burner which is adapted to burn gaseous fuels, wherein the fuel is heated in the stove prior to its combustion in order to obtain a more efficient operation of the stove.

Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view partly in front elevation and partly in cross section of a typical and illustrative embodiment of the invention; and,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view partly in cross section of the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1.

With the above stated and other objects in view the stove of the invention is provided with the conventional stove parts comprising an inlead pipe for gaseous fuel, a mixing element wherein air is mixed with the fuel in quantities sufficient for the proper combustion of the fuel, and burning apertures where the fuel is ignited and burned. In accordance with the invention the inlead pipe for the fuel is directed in a course which brings it within an area of ascending heated air and combustion products from the burning fuel utilizing such heat to preheat the fuel before it is burned. Such preheating of the fuel will serve to insure complete vaporization of all components of the fuel and thus promote ease and efficiency of burning the fuel. The invention is particularly applicable to stoves wherein natural gas is used, such gas frequently containing heavier components or fractions which may at the temperature and pressure of the inlead of the fuel be partly or entirely in condensed form. In the stove of the invention such condensation will be removed and all parts of the fuel will be placed in gaseous form suitable for immediate and eflicient combustion. i

It will be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description as well are exemplary and explanatory of the invention but are not restrictive thereof.

Referring now in detail to the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings, there is shown a conventional space heater adapted to burn gaseous fuel, a framework Ill being provided upon which a platform or apron I I is supported, the rear portion of which is provided with an aperture [2. Surrounding the aperture l2 and supported by platform H is a casing 13, usually consisting of refractory material. Casing 13 provides the rear, sides and top walls of the stove, forming a chamber open at the front wherein the customary radiants 14 are mounted.

The radiants l4 are removably supported upon the manifold I 5 extending across the stove at its bottom, said manifold being provided with a plurality of apertures it through which fuel and air mixture issues for combustion. A manually operable valve I1 is positioned at the fuel entrance to manifold 15, and the conventional air and fuel mixing element I8 is positioned on the manifold.

, The stove may be supplied with a flue aperture l9 at the top of the back wall thereof for the escape of heated combustion products and entrained air.

In accordance with the invention the fuel inlead pipe 20 is diverted from its conventional course, which is directly to the valve I1 and manifold l5, through the U shaped reach of pipe 21. Said pipe 2|, as shown, extends within the walls of casing I3 of the stove upwardly behind the radiants l4, across the stove above the radiants and downwardly again to connection with the valve [1. Other particular positions of the fuel inlead pipe may be chosen as desired, the important factor being that at least a portion of said pipe should be directed through an area which is heated by the ascending gases resulting from the burning of the fuel at apertures l 6.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom, within the scope of the accompanying claim, without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What is claimed is:

A space heater for burning natural petroleum gas fuel'comprising, in combination, means defining a heating chamber having an open front, a burner having fuel outlets at the bottom of said chamber, refractory radiant heating means over said burner covering said outlets and extending 4 3 upwardly into said chamber, an air-fuel mixing element for said burner positioned adjacent said burner, a fuel supply means, and a fuel inlead conduit connected to said mixing element to supply fuel to said burner, said conduit having a po i ne ea ne. in said mixin elementmf omn said fuel sc pnly means; said fuel conduit being positioned in said chamber adjacent and laterally of said radiant heating means in heat,

exchange relation therewith and out of line with said burner fuel outlets whereby. fuel in saidgpor tion of said inlead conduit may be preheated and is not exposed directly to flames from, said burner.

RALPH W. MORGAN; Executor of the Estate of Willis E. McCrory,

Deceased.

4 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

